LBird

Hi

We(a friend and I) are thinking about going on a longer roadtrip in the States next summer. At the time of the drive, we'll be 21 and 26 and both of us are female(if that's important for ant reason). Both of us have experience driving 8-10 hours on a day.

We have about 6 weeks to do it, time can be added at the beginning, but we need to be back in Europe by August 25, since school starts shortly after that.

So the idea we're playing with at the moment is something like this:

Fly to New Orleans, stay for a few days
-
Dallas - stay a bit, possibly at hostel to meet other people?
Forth Worth
-
Albuquerque - maybe?
-
Las Vegas - stay a bit
Los Angeles
--From Los Angeles we thought about doing a 3-4 day cruise to Mexico, most are to Ensenada.***
Los Angeles
-
San Francisco - stay a bit, also possibly a hostel
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA - stay a bit - fly home from here

The "-"s represent smaller towns, day on the roads, seeing things along the way, whatever people think could be fun to add.
*** I have read a few places, that some people have trouble coming back into the country, after getting back from Mexico. Is this something we should consider?

What we generally want to do/see on the trip:
- The whole nature thing. Meaning camping(bringing a tent), go on hikes, photography, seeing wild animals, lakes, waterfalls and beautiful forests etc.
- Amusement parks, I love rollercoasters and have been to most of the parks on the East Coast in the last couple of years.
- Museums, both the serious art kind and the not so art kind
- Football/Seahawks fans, hoping we'll be able to catch a game along the way or in Seattle at the end. Will probably plan towards this
- In Europe, on previous trips, we have stayed at alternative places like monasteries/convents, meditation centers/retreats etc so any suggestions on something like this could have interest.

Other than that, we just want to have a fun trip and see as much as possible, before the my friend starts uni.


We're not on any type of tight budget

dwooddon

You may have to do all the driving. Most U.S. rental car companies limit who may drive their cars to people 25 and older.

If it were me and given your stated interests, I would skip Dallas/Fort Worth/Albuquerque and drive from New Orleans to Yellowstone/Grand Tetons National Parks via Denver and the Rocky Mountains. There is also an old-timey amusement park in Denver called Elitch Gardens that's worth a visit.

It's not clear from your post whether your are U.S. citizens or not. If not, I'd check with U.S. Immigration to be sure the cruise to Mexico is doable given your passport and visa status.

Given that you are not on a tight budget you should be able to have a great trip. Good luck.

janisj

One thing to consider -- many (if not most) car rentals are limited to 30 days. Huge insurance issues arise for longer hires. So you may need to do two different car hires.

Most agencies will let 21 yos rent/drive - but w/ very high daily surcharges. So having the 21 yo on the contract could double the cost at least. You do have one advantage - most foreign visitors can get rental cars w/o one way drop off fees.

hetismij2

We are renting a car for 5 weeks with no problem, so perhaps the 30day rule doesn't apply to visitors from other countries. There is always a surcharge for 21-25 year olds though.
We have always paid a one way drop off fee for an inter state drop off, usually $500.
Occasionally you can hire a car in the western most states and drop it in a neighbouring state for no fee.
I know you can enter Canada and reenter the states on a visa waiver, but I don't know about Mexico. You can doubtless find out with a quick search online.

It is probably easier to buy camping gear on arrival rather than using up your luggage allowance on a tent etc.

tomfuller

My travel style might work for you. I take an Amtrak train (usually in coach) to a city and then rent a car and make a loop returning the car where I rented it. All of the cities except Las Vegas are served by Amtrak. You could easily rent a car in Albuquerque and go to Las Vegas returning the car in ABQ and taking the Southwest Chief to Los Angeles.
Amtrak and Greyhound also run bus service to Las Vegas from Los Angeles. If you have the extra funds, you can also get a roomette for long distances on Amtrak. Meals are included in the fare if you get a sleeper. Yes, Amtrak is sometimes late (once in a while early). Rent several cars and avoid the drop off fees (just my opinion).
There are HI Hostels in San Francisco, Sacramento (my favorite), Portland and Seattle. HI Hostels are better than most "other" hostels.

LBird

dwooddon: We actually started out with something more like your suggestion, but aren't too keen on a lot of driving on narrow mountain roads. I'll admit that I haven't looked that much into it yet, but having done mountain driving in France, Austria(the Alps) and in Spain I Know it's not something I like all that much.


Would it make sense to take out 5 days/a week after SF to drive to Yellowstone, with stops along the way? Maps says it's a 14 hour drive, with traffic and such, maybe a 2 day trip, with a night somewhere?


Also my friend really wants to do Vegas. Well.. Me too, since I haven't been there since I was 15 - Thinking it would be a different experience this time around


As for the car and our ages. I contacted a local travel agency her in Copenhagen, they have deals with Alamo and Hertz. And a "underaged" 2nd driver is something we have to pay for, but it wasn't too bad. Still cheaper than renting a car over here. Same with the fee for one way.

With the Mexico thing, we both have Danish passports. Google tell me we should be okay, but a few people have still been denied access back in. Definitely something to look in to.

LBird

tomfuller: Thank you for the hostel suggestion! I'll look into that!

We actually talked about changing cars as we go. I remember that we didn't need a car at all last time I was in SF, since we had already done al the surrounding things before we went in to the city.

Train does sound awesome, could be doable for the first part of the trip. Not sure if I would find it annoying lugging around two bags, by train, at the end of our trip.
And my amount of luggage somehow always doubles when in the US

DebitNM

Skip Dallas, keep Albuquerque and add in Santa Fe. The southwest is unlike any other part of the country.
We have a decent amusement park, Cliff's. It isn't Tivoli, but then what is? We have hiking, museums, pueblos, and mountains. A lot more.
Don't know much about the hostel, but the KOA is nice; I got there to get propane for my BBQ tank. Lovely, with some nice cabins.
http://koa.com/campgrounds/albuquerque-north/
http://route66hostel.com/

Gretchen

You won't necessarily find "narrow mountain roads" in Colorado--interstates for the most part if that is what you choose.
Be aware that Tom fuller LOVES train travel in the US--and most of us hate it because it is Late Late Late all the time. It is NOTHING like European train travel. Be forewarned.
Elitch Gardens in Denver is now a Six Flags and a nice park. There may still be a really old timey one at Lakewood in Denver.

DebitNM

"Elitch Gardens in Denver is now a Six Flags" Are you sure?? We were by there in April and it wasn't and this doesn't mention it.

https://www.elitchgardens.com/

jamie99

If you haven't already booked, try rentalcars.com as they will include all the insurance needed.
I agree with skipping Dallas, and agree with adding Santa Fe, good food unique to the area.
Be sure and spend a couple of days (2 nights at least) driving Highway 1 between LA and SF. Most beautiful drive in the US IMO.

dwdvagamundo

American pro football won't have started by Aug. 25, except for exhibition games.

July and August will be the hottest time of the year and the southern states, where you will spend the bulk of your time, will be the hottest states in the U.S. A lady I work with just came back from east Texas and said it was very hot--and she's used to the weather here in Atlanta. I'm not saying don't do it, but if you're planning your trip to see the Seahawks play a meaningful game, you're leaving before they'll start. So think about coming in April or May when the weather should be better.

All in all, a driving/camping trip across the western US is a great idea. We did one in our younger days and loved it.

dwdvagamundo

You've left out the Grand Canyon. I would not think about going to the southwest without seeing it, and there is great camping on the North Rim. You could do it on your way to Las Vegas. There are also a lot of other canyon lands in southern Utah, not far from the Grand Canyon. Zion, Bryce--each is spectacular and each is different. But the Grand Canyon is the most awesome thing I've ever seen.

hetismij2

Jamie99, when booking a rental car for the US from a European website insurance is always included, and it is normally cheaper than booking on a US website, with or without insurance. It also allows more than 30 days rental, which apparently US sites don't allow.

Why not drive some of Route 66, with side trips to Grand Canyon (just off the route), and maybe up to Monument Valley and the Utah parks too. Albuquerque is on Rte 66 too. Santa Fe isn't but is close.

taos23

Santa Fe and Taos are really amazing and not to be missed.

rjasnumberonefan

I've stayed at India Hostel in New Orleans and would do it again. Very young crowd (read "party" hostel *wink*) and 1 block from the cable car to Bourbon Street.

While a driving/tent camping trip with nature sounds like fun, you may want to tweak it a bit. If you were heading to Yellowstone or Colorado I'd say great! But realistically, going across Texas and the South you will find dirt and flat land. Combine that with the heat in July and August and you would roast in a tent. Camping at KOAs like DebitNM suggested would give you the best of both worlds. Most have cabins at a decent price. By cabins, I don't mean luxury lodges. They are basically a couple beds and a slat table, but they will have a/c (or at least a fan). You only need linens and use the campground restroom/showers. Less camping gear to haul around and you can still cookout and sit under the stars with a fire at night.

In SF check out http://www.norcalhostels.org/marin. My last month long cross country trip ended spending the day at the Marin Headlands. So opposite of SF and the big city rush and just across the bridge. We had reservations in Emeryville, CA to go back across the country on Amtrak so this place will be visited on my next trip. I love hostels because you do get to meet fellow travelers with great stories

LBird

I'll try answering everything. If I forget someone/something let me know!


dwdvagamundo: I'm aware it will be preseason games, but as far as I can see tickets are sold for these as well? Since we aren't able to travel in season, we will just have to settle I guess ( plus traveling in may and april wouldn't get us much game action either, only cooler weather)


So... Everyone, almost, says to skip Dallas.. is there a specific reason? None of us have been before and it seems obvious with the itinerary.
And again many of you would go to Santa Fe so that is now on the list of things to check out.


DebitNM: Thank you so much for the tips! Looking into KOA and the other stuff. And no, there aren't many places like Tivoli.


rjasnumberonefan: Great tips on the hostels. Also the tent thing... Good point. Though I have camped in very hot weather, there isn't really a reason to do it if there are cabins

DebitNM

Feel free to pick my head re: NM!

LBird

I'll probably do that during planning..

..
And I forgot this, can't remember who said something about it. We aren't forgetting Grand Canyon, it is something we plan on seeing while in the LV area

tomfuller

Just remembered that my wife and I stayed a couple nights in the Route 66 Hostel (not HI) on west Central Avenue in Albuquerque. It was a pepto pink room with an ensuite bath.
If you go with the multiple car route, you could fly to Las Vegas from a city served by Allegiant Airline. Sign ontop their website to see what cities they serve. Rental cars are cheaper in Las Vegas than almost anywhere else.
The Sacramento HI hostel is a Victorian mansion at the corner of 10th & H across the street from City Hall. It has been moved at least twice in its history.